Some Advise Please

[Tallynpoppet]

Hi everyone - I am new to this site and would like some advice please.

I have been riding on and off for years, started as a child, I was cantering and starting to jump. I stopped going when I was about 10. Started again when I was 24 for a couple of years, again just starting to jump. I have had a break for a couple of years and just started back again and this time round enjoying it more than ever. I have always enjoyed it and loved it but lessons have always been expensive and struggled to pay.

I am now 27 and can comfortably afford having private lessons every week. I feel like I want to ride more than once a week for half an hour and really want to start progressing to next levels and improving my confidence.

How do you know when you are ready to buy a horse? I don't really know how to keep a horse but I always thought to myself that if I did have one I would keep them in a full livery, then ride in the week and weekend.

I have looked for loans or shares in the area but there is never anything suitable for a rider at my level.

What are peoples thoughts in this. Would it be silly of me to think of owning a horse? Are lessons cheaper when you have your own horse?

I don't really know much about owning etc so any news and advice would be great.

I just know that I want to take my riding to the next level and would like to enjoy hacks a lot more, and perfect and grow on my skills that I have learnt over the years.

Thanks in advance.

Lucy

[sancho]

Depends on your current level of horse care and whether you will keep your horse at a yard with other people or on your own land etc.

It would be great if you could loan for a while but at the end of the day, its not until you have your own horse that you start the learning process properly! i couldnt have done it without alot of support fom my livery yard.

Look on the BHS website. They do courses in horsemanship which would help.

Good luck!

[Gruntfuttock]

if you are quite honest with yourself and admit that you know practically nothing and are prepared to find a reputable livery yard tht will help you with caring for your horse, then there is no reason why a keen and committed novice shouldn't have their own horse.

If you were going to go out and buy something that you'd then keep on your own land at home with no advice and no support, I'd say you were mad, but if you are going to keep it in full livery, i don't see why you shouldn't start looking for your own horse.

In general, lessons on your own horse are usually cheaper than school lessons. The real advantage of having your own horse, though, is the sheer amount of bum-in-saddle time that you can spend practicing the things you've learned in your lesson, or just footling around having fun on your horse. I don't have my own horse, but I have full use of one (her owner doesn't ride her any more), and its taken me a long time to get used to the idea that I don't actually have to do anything with her. I can lunge her if i don't feel like riding, i can put up little jumps in the school if i want to jump, i can take her for a pootle round the fields if i don't feel like schooling, or i can just groom her and cuddle her and give her carrots if i feel lazy.

When you depend on your school lessons for "horse time", there's sometimes a feeling that you have to wring every last moment of value out of them, because its your only chance to be with a horse until next week. When you have your own horse, that urgency disappears, and you can spend a lot more time taking things at your own pace and just enjoying being with your horse.

[*Sez*]

While having your own horse on full livery would give you a lot more riding time, it will be much more expensive than a regular lesson. Lessons on my own horse cost me almost half what a RS lesson would be, but because of the costs of keeping my own horse, it's much more expensive, and especially would be on full livery.
Personally, I would suggest that you gain as much horse care experience as you can (you can do the Horse Owners' certificate without a horse of your own ) and maybe keep looking for a share or loan until you have the basics. Realistically, all new owners are on a learning curve, but basic things like how to muck out, what to do if your horse has a scrape, which rug to use and why you feed what you do are all things that increase the confidence of new owners, rather than relying on someone else to know these things.

Nothing against people who do full-livery, but I love the relationship I have with my horse, and I wouldn't have that if someone else did all his care. For me, the stable chores, dealing with injuries and everything else are all as much a part of horse ownership as the riding.

[BlackBess]

Hi Lucy
Welcome to the forum. I'm in exactly the same situation as you!! I'm a complete novice at looking after horses, so a few years ago I did the BHS Horse Owners course which you can do at a local college or I think most RS do these courses or similar courses in stable management. Perhaps you could ask at your RS if they do a similar course?

Good luck with everything

[Tallynpoppet]

Thanks everyone.

Some of the courses seem really good I will have a look at them. I dont feel as stupid now!

Thanks again

Lucy

[Ginger Thing]

Hi Lucy,

Sedgley Riding Club runs BHS Stage courses, can find out some more details for you if you like?

[Tallynpoppet]

Sedgley riding club - did that used to be called Wood Farm?

I used to ride at Wood Farm when I started when I was a child, but never heard of Sedgley riding club - details would be great

Thanks

[simons-mum]

Hi Lucy,

I'm currently doing an online horse-care course which is excellent.
www.horse-care.co.uk
Some riding schools will lease horses which allows you full use of their facilities outside of lesson times, this might be a good way to start for you if you are unsure
I did this for 2 months and now own 2 ponies which I keep at home, I found it a great confidence builder!

[Bay Mare]

I started that one and never finished it (had a few disagreements with the tutor). In retrospect though I would have rather have gone to a RS where you can do the practical along with the theory.

I agree with the others that making sure that you do the care stuff before you think of buying. Ginger Thing told me that once I bought my own I'd feel like a beginner again. I didn't believe her until I bought my own and realised just how true that was! It's been a huge learning curve even though I'd been around horses, looking after horses and working at RS for years, even as an adult. Suddenly they're your responsibility (even on full livery) and you forget everything that you ever knew. Of course it all comes back again but you'll probably find that you change your views on things and will change the way that you do things too Saying that, it's been the most rewarding decision that I ever made.

Are lessons cheaper when you have your own horse?

Depends on the instructor and what you want to do but not necessarily. I found 'just' having lessons at a RS a LOT cheaper than owning my own. There's always something new that you just have to buy

[Carly!]

Hiya Lucy!

I'm a complete novice too and have just bought my first horse! I've only had him 3 days
Knowing next to nothing about horses it's a steep learning curve but you've got to start somewhere! Definitely find somewhere with helpful yard, everyone on mine is lovely. And don't forget to find a definite first pony type. The lady I got Sweep from matches riders with horses- so PM me if you're interested and I'll give you some info

[Joyscarer]

Anyone can own a horse successfully. The key is being able to fund how it needs to be kept.

You need to think carefully about where you keep your horse because at first you will want experienced people around you.

You may decide it would be best to go full livery until you get the hang of it and have enough knowledge to take on a bit more yourself.

I tend to think of it in the same as way as being a first time mum. I didn't have a clue when my daughter was born as I was the first of my generation in my family to have one. All out friends had grown up children too.

I read up and with the back up of the system and friends and family I have a happy healthy little girl who is 6 this year.

I think as long as you are not the type of persont hat puts on a front that they know more than they do and is willing to show they have weeknesses and ask for help then you should do fine

I wouldn't buy on the basis it will be cheaper to keep a horse than to get lessons though.

[molly34]

If you can afford full or (well) assisted livery, then go for it and learn on the job! Research your yards to make sure you get what you need - round here quite a few offer different degrees of livery and they often include free or subsidised lessons, use of the sandschool etc.